Christmas is not about a fat, jolly man named Santa, with a bag of gifts in his sleigh driven by reindeer. It is not about Santa living in the North Pole that makes it around the world in 24 hours, which is not even possible. It's not about a man who doesn't exist. It's not about the gifts or money you receive Christmas Day. It's not about any of that stuff.
Christmas is about the first six letters of the word,
C H R I S T.
Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas. He was sent to this earth as a baby to later die for our sins. The story of Jesus' birth is incredible. Granted, every birth of a new baby is amazing, but Jesus' birth was incredible. Jesus came to earth, leaving his rightful throne, to die for us. He was the sacrifice that pleased God. He was our sacrifice that we needed to be righteous in God's eyes. The cross is the very reason he was sent to earth. The cross is what saves us and makes us holy.
The story of Jesus shows how he came to serve the lowest of the lows and how he was the highest power on earth. He was God in human form. He healed the blind and sick. He raised people from the dead. He made a meal for 5,000 people out of five loaves of bread and two fish. He did miracles that no one knows how to explain. But because he performed miracles, Jesus was hated. Everyone who didn't believe he was the Son of God hated him.
Side note, let's take a look at Mary, Jesus' mother. Throughout his entire life, she provided for him. She gave him what he needed although, she knew she needed him. He came into this world in the most fragile form there is, a newborn baby. He grew up and she watched her son and Son of God in a light no one else saw. Imagine the joy she felt as she held her savior in her arms. Imagine the joy she felt being able to say, "that is MY son." Imagine the joy she felt when she watched her son perform miracles. Imagine the joy she felt knowing she is the mother of the Son of God.
But, any parent knows that when someone hurts your child, it hurts you too. So take a minute and imagine the pain she felt when she watched her son be betrayed. Imagine the pain she felt as they drove the crown of thrones through her son's skull. Imagine the pain she felt when they flogged her son and made him carry his cross. Imagine the pain she felt when they nailed him on that cross. Imagine the hurt she felt... because if that would have been your son, how would you have felt? Imagine the hurt and heartache you would have felt as the parent to the man nailed up to the cross.
Parents typically say that they would lay their lives down for their children, but Jesus was the one who laid his life down for his mother and the rest of the world. How many times do you think Mary wished it wasn't her son being beaten? How many times do you think Mary wished it wasn't her son being nailed on that cross?
So, this Christmas celebrate with a purpose. Celebrate the one who would later save you from eternal death. Celebrate the birth of a miracle worker. And don't lose sight of who Christmas is really about. Don't celebrate Christmas for the wrong reasons.
Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
Luke 1 & 2- the story of Jesus' birth
